Firearm Background Checks

Congress should address the issue. I do agree that the executive branch oversteps it's authority. But since Congress cant or want do their job and don't seem to object, The President expands his power every four years. Wait until next year, I expect the winner in November will go to the extreme over stepping his authority.

But Congress is the problem. They can stop the President by doing their damn job. Pass legislation that says gun shows are or are not exempt. Pass laws limiting the President's power.

But that would mean they might have to earn a paycheck.

If Trump had suggested the same legislation it would have been praised by the right.

Well the rule is 126 pages.

Here is a link to it (pdf)
Published rule pdf

The rule sets up presumptions. It needs to be read.


+1 on the 26 AG from the states who have read it.

Right up until the point the "boogyman" goes postal.

That poor schlub in Maine was reported several times.

The warnings of violent ideation were ignored.


Two days after the fact, news showed lines outside Maine gun shops.


Are we missing something here?


Just yesterday, a woman died at the hands of a guy with a "restraining order".

Reportedly, cops refused to enforce the order.


Are we missing something here?


Is it a choice between vindictive reporting by an angry ex, and judicial findings for a dead one?

If so, I know which direction is preferred.

Angry exes can face charges, battered women face a coroner.

Bullshit.

That is not the rule, the proposed rule is within those 126 pages. The actual rule is 4 pages long beginning on page 29067 and ending on 29070. The stuff before that is the basis for the rule, the proposed rule, and comments. The stuff after that is the statutory review, costs, and such.

The rule is not as clear as the ATF tries to claim and I especially do not like 'Section E. Presumptions That a Person Is Engaged in the Business'. I read that as the assumption you are guilty and need to prove your innocence. I also think the rule needs to clarify a minimum number of sales to be a dealer. Heck, under that rule, I was acting as dealer at certain times in the past and did not know it. 

I am in favor of stopping unqualified people from buying firearms. I am in favor of trying to ensure more purchases are done through legitimate dealers and background checks are performed. But that rule could get some people charged with crimes they are not guilty of due to an overzealous ATF agent or some pissed off relative who thinks you should give your gun collection to him  rather than sell ti for a profit. Then you have to prove you are innocent, rather than they prove you are guilty. 

I doubt it survives the court challenges, but you never know. 


I think there needs to be background checks for purchasing firearms to keep them out of the hands of criminals and crazy people. Maybe the universal background check needs to handled at the state level and leave the fed out of it. 22 states already regulate private sales at gun shows and such. Let each state decide how it wants to handle private gun sales and then the citizens of those states can vote on it. I think those state laws have already passed some court challenges. 

I doubt the issue of illegal guns sales is a big issue in Montana like it would be in New York or Chicago.